The city’s tourism organization has smartly selected summer as a way to show off its eclectic mix of hipster and traditional restaurants. Costa Mesa Restaurant Week kicks off Friday – cleverly avoiding competing restaurant week events held in January and February.

In its fourth year, nearly 60 restaurants are participating – from classics such as Scott’s Restaurant & Bar and La Cave to newbies like Birdie Bowl and Juicery and the Kickin’ Crab.

Taco Maria, famous for not serving tacos at dinner, normally offers a four-course tasting menu for $49 during its critically acclaimed evening meal service. For restaurant week, chef and owner Carlos Salgado is condensing that menu by one course and shaving off $10. The $39 three-courser, available Thursdays through Saturdays, crescendos from an aguachile starter of “blood and chocolata clams” to a finale choice of guinea fowl or piloncillo pork belly.

If you’re at the SoCo eatery on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, you can try the new a la carte menu which offers – wait for it – tacos. The handmade corn tortilla tacos of shiitake mushrooms, Jidori chicken mole and carnitas with Berkshire pork belly are being offered, along with other small plates, on these two nights in lieu of the regular tasting menu during the summer, Salgado said.

“While our prix fixe menu has gained real traction, we want to be inclusive of diners with limited time and budgets earlier in the week,” Salgado said.

During restaurant week, guests will receive a 10 percent discount at lunch and dinner Tuesdays and Wednesdays, the chef added. 3313 Hyland Ave.

Mendocino Farms

If you haven’t visited Mendocino Farms’ first Orange County sandwich palace, then shame on you. These addictive “farm to table” sandwiches are a mind-blowing experience. The eatery is offering a $15 three-courser for dinner only.

A few signature sandwiches and two salads are the menu. You can’t go wrong with any of them, including a fan favorite, the Kurobuta pork belly banh mi.

But the big prize is the new pastrami sandwich, which debuted Monday in Costa Mesa after a test run in L.A. The $12.95 Pastrami Project sandwich is a collaboration with Ugly Drum barbecue chefs Erick Black and Joe Marcos. The pecan-wood smoked pastrami is cooked for 12 hours and served with creamy apple cole slaw on rye bread by Drago Bakery. The $15 Restaurant Week dinner special includes a choice of a deli side (I’d get the curriedcouscous) or soup and a natural soda. 450 E. 17th St.

Mole de Pintada, with roasted guinea fowl, figs, carrots, braised dates and nasturtiums is served at Taco Maria. CINDY YAMANAKA, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Kale Caesar is one of the items being offered during Costa Mesa Restaurant Week at Mendocino Farms. The $15 dinner only special also includes a side of soup or deli side and a soda. ED CRISOSTOMO, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Taco de Calamares comes stuffed with local squid, squid ink tortilla, peanuts and purslane at Taco Maria. The SoCo eatery will participate in Costa Mesa Restaurant Week. CINDY YAMANAKA, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Taco Maria chef-owner Carlos Salgado, right, meticulously plates up Papalos of watermelon, avocado, queso fresco and butterfly herbs at his SoCo eatery which will participate in Costa Mesa Restaurant Week. CINDY YAMANAKA, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Kurobuta Pork Belly Banh Mi is being offered as a choice during Costa Mesa Restaurant Week. The $15 dinner only special also includes a side of soup or deli side and a soda at Mendocino Farms. ED CRISOSTOMO, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Figs, carrots, braised dates and nasturtiums accompany roasted guinea fowl in a Mole de Pintada dish at Taco Maria in Costa Mesa. During restaurant week, guests receive a 10 percent discount at lunch and dinner on Tuesday and Wednesday. CINDY YAMANAKA, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Mendocino Farms' Pastrami Project sandwich comes to the Costa Mesa restaurant. The sandwich is also being offered as a choice during Costa Mesa Restaurant Week. The $15 dinner only special also includes a side of soup or deli side and a soda. COURTESY OF MENDOCINO FARMS
Taco Maria business cards are displayed outside the SoCo eatery, which will participate in Costa Mesa Restaurant Week. CINDY YAMANAKA, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

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